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A review by abeltirado
The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire by William Dalrymple
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
4.75
Ease of Read: 10/10
Narrative/Voice: 10/10
Sources: 8/10
Lack of Bias: 8.5/10
The Anarchy is an incredibly easy to read history that brings the conflicts to life. The liberal use of primary sources engenders a lot of trust in the author, even if the majority of primary sources are English.
This isn't necessarily a knock against the book since it is, after all, a look at the East India Trading Corporation. Dalrymple showcases the "too big too fail" mentality of one of the first European multinational companies as well as the passivity of governments corrupted by personal profit.
Despite this book being about the EIC specifically, it is not hard to see immediate parallels between US corporations operating in South America and the African continent.
Read if you specifically want an understanding of the EIC. For overall Indian history, this serves as a great addendum but otherwise Keay's "India: A History" would serve you better.
Narrative/Voice: 10/10
Sources: 8/10
Lack of Bias: 8.5/10
The Anarchy is an incredibly easy to read history that brings the conflicts to life. The liberal use of primary sources engenders a lot of trust in the author, even if the majority of primary sources are English.
This isn't necessarily a knock against the book since it is, after all, a look at the East India Trading Corporation. Dalrymple showcases the "too big too fail" mentality of one of the first European multinational companies as well as the passivity of governments corrupted by personal profit.
Despite this book being about the EIC specifically, it is not hard to see immediate parallels between US corporations operating in South America and the African continent.
Read if you specifically want an understanding of the EIC. For overall Indian history, this serves as a great addendum but otherwise Keay's "India: A History" would serve you better.